The MTN Group has announced that it is in advanced discussions to acquire the remaining shares in IHS Holdings that it does not already own. The telecoms giant disclosed this in a cautionary notice to investors on Thursday, following market speculation about its intentions regarding the New York Stock Exchange-listed IHS Towers. The group noted that acquiring the remaining shares in IHS could give it full control of the tower infrastructure company. MTN explained that it is considering a transaction to purchase the outstanding 75 per cent stake in IHS, with discussions already at an advanced stage. According to the…
Author: Newsdesk
Airtel Nigeria has announced that 2026 will be a major year for network expansion as the company scales investments to enhance coverage, capacity, and digital resilience nationwide. Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Dinesh Balsingh, made this known on Thursday during an Airtel media roundtable in Lagos. Balsingh said the company expanded its network footprint by about 15 per cent between December 2023 and early 2025, increasing its sites from roughly 15,000 to 17,000, with further expansion planned this year. “Over the last two years, we have expanded our geographical network by close to 15 per cent, and we…
The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB) has achieved 89 per cent vaccination coverage of targeted children in its ongoing immunization campaign across the state. In a statement on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Ibrahim Mustafa, described the milestone as a testament to the state government’s commitment to safeguarding the health and future of children. The state launched a week-long Measles-Rubella (MR) and Routine Immunization (RI) Campaign on January 27, covering all local government areas (LGAs) and local council development areas (LCDAs). Mustafa attributed the strong results to effective collaboration among government agencies, health workers, community leaders, development partners,…
The Kogi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to equitable, preventive, and people-centred healthcare delivery, stressing that no resident should be denied access to basic health services due to cost or location. Dr Abdulazeez Adeiza, the Commissioner for Health, gave the assurance on Thursday in Lokoja during the flag-off of the distribution of free glucometers and free blood sugar screening across the state. Adeiza, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Mr Momoh Aziz, said the initiative marked a significant step in collective efforts to prevent, detect, and manage non-communicable diseases, particularly diabetes mellitus. According to him,…
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has unveiled a household-focused used cooking oil (Ororo Waste) collection initiative to curb pollution, improve public health, and create economic opportunities across the state. The initiative, unveiled on Thursday in Lagos, is a collaboration between LASEPA and Ororo Waste Management, with support from the Shell Foundation. Speaking at the unveiling, LASEPA General Manager Dr Babatunde Ajayi said improper disposal of used cooking oil blocks drainage systems, causes flooding, damages roads, and heightens public health risks in communities. Ajayi spoke under the theme: “Turning Used Cooking Oil (Ororo) to Wealth for Environmental Protection.” He…
The Federal Government on Thursday flagged off the distribution of palliatives comprising food and non-food items to thousands of residents, including women, children, and the elderly, in Borno State. Speaking during the flag-off ceremony in Maiduguri, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bernard Doro, said the initiative stemmed from the Presidential Emergency Food and Nutrition Intervention Programme, aimed at supporting residents of the 10 most humanitarian-affected states in Northern Nigeria. The minister stated that the FG approved and mobilised food items such as rice, beans, millet, maize, garri, groundnuts, groundnut oil, palm oil, brown sugar, tomato paste, seasoning…
The North-East Development Commission (NEDC), has constructed a mega secondary school, to enhance delivery of quality education in Bauchi state. Alhaji Uba Ahmadu, Minister of State for Regional Development, said this on Thursday during the handing-over of the school to the Bauchi state government. He said the school project was executed by the commission in collaboration with the ministry in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, aimed at education transformation in the country. The ministry, he said, also embarked on an education programme aimed at identifying schools in deplorable conditions for rehabilitation by the authorities. “This…
The United Nations rights chief called on Thursday on the Burkina Faso government to halt all repression of civic space and to overturn its plan to prohibit all political parties. The junta running the West African nation said last week it planned to dissolve all political parties, whose activities have been suspended since the military rulers seized power in 2022. “Instead of banning political parties and jailing people for expressing their opinions, the authorities in Burkina Faso need to open up space for civil society, including humanitarian actors,” Volker Turk said in a statement. They must, he said, “respect the…
An environmentalist and analytical chemistry professor at Topfaith University, Mkpatak, in Akwa Ibom State, Prof Nsikak Benson, has been ranked among the world’s top 2% scientists in the 2025 global listing published by Stanford University. The list, published in collaboration with Elsevier, is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious measures of research impact and recognises the most influential scientists worldwide across diverse disciplines. Prof Benson’s inclusion in this global ranking is said to be a testament to his academic strength, dedication, and sustained contributions to advancing scientific knowledge. Over the years, he has built an impressive record of…
Canada has recorded one of the sharpest declines in international student enrolment in its history, with foreign student numbers falling by nearly 300,000 over the past two years, according to official immigration data. Figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) show that between December 2023 and November 2025, the number of international students in the country dropped by 273,570, representing a decline of about 27.5%. The fall reflects a major policy shift by the Canadian government aimed at reducing the number of temporary residents amid mounting pressure on housing, infrastructure, and public services. Speaking last month in Halifax, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab…